Denmark expect Eriksen to play in Euros last-16 with Germany

Denmark expect midfielder Christian Eriksen to overcome stomach issues and play in the Euro 2024 last 16 clash with Germany in Dortmund on Saturday.

Germany had positive news of their own over Antonio Rudiger, with the star defender returning to training on Friday having missed earlier sessions with a hamstring strain.

The Danes’ bid to spring a massive upset had appeared to take a hit with the influential Eriksen, and fellow midfielder Thomas Delaney both skipping team training with stomach problems.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand reported Eriksen “had some stomach issues this morning, and it’s the same thing we had with Thomas Delaney”, with the two kept separate to protect the rest of the team.

Hjulmand added Eriksen was “feeling better again and we expect that he will be able to play tomorrow”.

Eriksen, 32, has had a memorable return to the European Championship three years after he collapsed on the pitch in a match against Finland and was later fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD).

He was named man-of-the-match in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Serbia and played his 133rd game in Danish colours, breaking the all-time record.

Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Delaney is less likely to recover in time, but Hjulmand said “we have a plan B for every player”.

Rudiger’s potential absence was worrying for Germany, who are already set to do without fellow centre-back Jonathan Tah, out with a yellow card suspension.

The Real Madrid star missed several training sessions but returned on Friday in high spirits, joking with Jamal Musiala while doing laps of the pitch at the German training base in Herzogenaurach.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann said the defender had a “very good” run ahead of Saturday’s match.

He added: “Our medical staff tried to do everything this week to get him fit again. At the moment he looks like being fit again.

“We’re happy to have him back so if nothing special happens he could play tomorrow.”

Rudiger injured his hamstring towards the end of Germany’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland in the final group game but played on and completed the match.

Nico Schlotterbeck, who faced off against Rudiger in the Champions League final with club side Borussia Dortmund in June, will take Tah’s place in central defence.

Denmark finished second in their group, behind England, after drawing each of their three group games, which earned them a meeting with three-time winners Germany, who won two and drew one in the pool stage.

The Danes won the Euros in 1992, defeating Germany in the final in Sweden despite being rank underdogs and the Danes are hoping to spring a similar upset on Saturday.

“Germany are one of the favourites and it’s just too bad they’re playing us tomorrow,” Hjulmand said, while praising “the quality they have and the way they’ve expressed themselves in the first few matches.”

“But we also have a great team and so they have to be very, very good tomorrow to beat us”.

Hjulmand responded to rumours Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fuellkrug may start in place of Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, saying his side were “ready for everything, no matter who they put on the pitch.”